Next Club Meeting:July 18, 2026,at the Fountaindale Public Library in Bolingbrook from 11:00 am - 5:00 pm
The Animatrix Network is an anime & manga fan club located in the Southwest suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. We usually meet on the third Saturday of each month (except when holidays or conventions coincide). The meetings are free and open to the public. Join us for a day filled with anime.
This site provides news, reviews, commentaries, and previews of the world of anime and everything it inspires in today's pop culture, such as live-action films, comics, music, art, and other weird things to enjoy and contemplate.
The first Anime Expo was held from July 3–6, 1992, at the Red Lion Hotel in San Jose, California. Many of its original staff came from Anime Con, an anime convention held in San Jose in 1991, and later absorbed by the SPJA in 1992. In 1994, Anime Expo made a strategic relocation to the Southern California area, and all subsequent conventions have taken place there since.
It currently holds the title of North America's largest anime convention, a title which it has consistently held every year except in 2003, in which its attendance was slightly edged out by the East Coast anime convention Otakon. From 1,750 attendees in 1992, Anime Expo's size has increased to over 107,658 in 2017, making Anime Expo the largest anime and manga convention in North America.
An introverted mechanic, Joe, and an astrobotanist, Fran, are tasked with creating the first-ever plant-fueled rocket. They develop immediate chemistry, though both lack romantic competence. Joe, who lives a secluded, solitary lifestyle, finds himself sheltering three aliens: Dunk, Welly, and Shirm. The trio is on an interstellar escape from the overzealous Officer Zandro, and deduce that Fran's rocket will safely get them home.
One does not need dance to live. In 1374, during the turbulent age when the Northern and Southern Courts were locked in conflict, the Northern Court’s shogun, Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, was becoming an increasingly dominant force.
Born the son of Kan’ami, head of the Kanze troupe of sarugaku performers, Oniyasha drifts through his days with a hazy question lodged in his heart: Why do people dance? His spirit remains clouded, until the day he encounters a dance that is truly “good.”
Curious, sensitive, and strikingly beautiful, the boy meets people, laughs, cries, confronts his own weaknesses, and slowly begins to shape a new form of dance for a world steeped in impermanence.
Kazuto Mihara’s groundbreaking Noh themed manga from Morning finally comes to life as an anime, filled with scenes that stir the heart and dynamic movement and chanting that can only be expressed through animation.
Directed by Toshimasa Kuroyanagi (The Great Passage, Backflip!!) and animated by Cypic (Uma Musume: Cinderella Gray, The Summer Hikaru Died), this series showcases top tier animation supported by a standout cast.
This is a story shaped by dance that may have unfolded when the boy who would one day create Noh—Zeami—was still known as Oniyasha, carried across 600 years to the present.
TV Anime "The World Is Dancing" Premieres This July!
Inspired by Osamu Tezuka's classic "Princess Knight," THE RIBBON HERO follows Sapphire, the princess of the fallen kingdom of Silverland, who becomes determined to defend her new home of Goldland and its citizens from the calamity that claimed her former homeland. Brought to life by a powerhouse team of creators, this new anime film arrives August 8, 2026, only on Netflix.
A reluctant teen discovers he's the next "Spirit Guardian" and sets sail across the Sea of a Million Islands to save his grandmother, uncover the truth behind his missing father, and stop a growing darkness from consuming the human and spirit worlds.
Back in 2011, Cartoon Network was in more than 100 million homes. It was one of the most sought-after places to work in entertainment and routinely outperformed competitors like Nickelodeon and Disney Channel. For an entire generation, it was the home of some of the most beloved animated shows ever made.
In 1977 Rankin Bass released their version of an animated THE HOBBIT film on television in 1977. The studio they used was a Japanese firm called TOPCRAFT. In 1985 they went bankrupt. However, all their assets and animators were bought by Hayao Miyazaki and reformed as STUDIO GHIBILI where he went to produce their first feature: NAAUSICA in the VALLEY OF THE WIND thus kickstarting a long string of animated features known world wide.
Takayuki Hirao, the animation director who vividly depicted the passion of people pursuing their dreams in "Pompo the Cinephile" (2021), evoking deep emotion and empathy, is currently one of the most noteworthy creators, blending classic directing techniques with challenging methods to produce dramatic visuals. Now, Hirao's first original feature-length animated film, for which he serves as both director and screenwriter, will soon be released. This film, known by the project code "WASTED CHEF," is a groundbreaking entertainment piece centered on the unusual combination of "cooking" and "science fiction." Through the drama of a young chef's growth and a thrilling adventure story unfolding in a mysterious world where "taste" has been lost, the film explores the contemporary theme of "what is value?"
While celebrating their last night together, Jo and Raissa stumble upon a mysterious portal that transports them to the fantastical island of Nakali, packed with magical and mythological creatures they grew up hearing stories about from their Filipino families. Some of these figures will become friends, some foes. Joined by well-meaning-but- hapless weredog Raww (Dave Franco) and a small-but-mighty pack of pals, Jo and Raissa must face The Dreaded Manananggal (Tony winning icon Lea Salonga), the most feared creature on the island. When they discover that the memories of their entire friendship are the price for returning home, Jo and Raissa will race to find a way to leave the island before they forget each other forever.
In the bitterly cold streets of Petrograd, the daughter of an infamous Ratcatcher flirts with a revolutionist and is thrust into a nail-biting, journey into the dark, mysterious forgotten underworld. Based on a tragic love story by Alexander Grin, 'The RatCatcher's Daughter' paints a grim tale of 1920's post war Russia, plagued by poverty, addiction and the threat of revolution.
THE RATCATCHER’S DAUGHTER is the third installment of the animated horror anthology series RED IRON ROAD. Each of the episodes is a stand-alone short film between 10-20 minutes long, based on the works of famous European authors, and produced with different creative partners in unique visual styles to suit each story.
The Bizarre World of Japanese Stop-Motion Animation
Japanese stop-motion animation is a lot stranger than you might expect.
From cursed fairy tales and cyberpunk body horror to spider-legged goblins, shape-shifting aliens, and underground worlds filled with bizarre creatures, these are some of the weirdest stop-motion films Japan has ever produced.
A woman awakens from hibernation with no memory of her past. But all that surrounds her are ruins — and terrifying monsters. With no idea what is happening, she must find a way to survive.
It's a BRAND NEW DAY for Peter Parker. Fighting crime full-time as Spider-Man in a world that doesn’t remember him—and the pressure of seeing his old friends move on without him—sparks a change in Peter he may not have the power to control. But that transformation might also be the only thing that can stop a shocking new threat to the city and those he loves - a powerful villain no one can even see. The world may have forgotten Peter Parker, but he hasn’t forgotten them.
“Hexed” is an all-new magical coming-of-age saga releasing in theaters November 25. The original animated film is Walt Disney Animation Studios’ 65th animated feature.
Joining previously announced voice cast members Hailee Steinfeld and Rashida Jones are seven-time Emmy Award® winner Tracey Ullman (“The Tracey Ullman Show,” “Tracey Takes On…,” “Bullets Over Broadway,” “Robin Hood: Men in Tights”), who voices the enchanted feather quill pen Ms. Quill, and Stephen Fry (“Gosford Park,” “Wilde,” “Jeeves and Wooster,” “V for Vendetta,” “The Hobbit” trilogy) as the magical journal Elias Quire.
The new trailer introduces the impulsive and unconventional teenage girl Billie (voiced by Hailee Steinfeld) and her cautious mother, Alice (voiced by Rashida Jones). When Billie accidentally unleashes secret magical abilities, she’s hurtled out of suburbia and into a magical realm called Hexe, where she’s greeted by Ms. Quill (voiced by Tracey Ullman) and Elias Quire (voiced by Stephen Fry). As Billie’s spectacle-filled journey unfolds, she uncovers family mysteries that could change the magical world of witches forever.
Director Fawn Veerasunthorn said, “A wonderfully strange phenomenon is happening all around Billie, something she can’t explain. She's someone who has felt miscast in her own life, and it takes leaving her normal world behind and entering a hidden world of wild, unhinged magic to begin to understand herself.”
"Hexe is a place where Billie begins to feel seen for the first time in her life,” director Jason Hand said. “She embarks on a journey of self-discovery that reveals a powerful connection to magic, and in the process uncovers long-held secrets about her family.”
Disney’s “Hexed” is directed by Fawn Veerasunthorn and Jason Hand, co-directed by Josie Trinidad, and produced by Roy Conli and Yvett Merino. The film opens exclusively in theaters November 25, 2026.
Disney’s "Hexed" is only in theaters November 25, 2026
• AI-generated, live-action-style reimagining inspired by Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
• Cinematic post-apocalyptic scenery—windy valleys, ruins, and the eerie Sea of Corruption
• A photoreal “what if it existed in reality” worldbuilding experience
This video is an unofficial AI-generated fan creation inspired by Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. It does not use any original footage, images, or music from the film, and it is not intended to reproduce, replace, or substitute the original work, characters, or story. It is created with respect for the original and not for the purpose of infringing any rights.
This video is a live-action cinematic reinterpretation of Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End. While preserving the original emotion and atmosphere, it has been recreated with realistic textures and film-like direction. The focus was on expressing the quiet emotions of Frieren, the passage of time, and the lingering feeling of magic through a realistic cinematic approach. All scenes were created using AI-based cinematic techniques, with detailed elements such as lighting, wind effects, and camera direction carefully implemented. More live-action cinematic reinterpretations of various anime will be coming soon, so don’t forget to like and subscribe for more.
Something spooky is happening only on Disney+. 👻😱 Disney Branded Television has unveiled the KYA, release date, and trailer for Xilám Animation and Disney EMEA Animation's "The Doomies". The animated series will premiere on Disney+ on June 26, with 22 half-hour episodes.
Disney has also unveiled "The Doomies" (Shorts), a new short-form series featuring four episodes: “Doug Unfiltered,” “Ghosted By A Ghost,” “Creepy Crepe” and “What Is That Thing?” set to release on the Disney Channel Animation YouTube channel and Disney+ on Friday June, 26.
Synopsis: When best friends Bobby and Romy accidentally open a portal to evil, their tranquil coastal town transforms into a hotspot for terrifying creatures of doom. As the ordinary teens navigate this extraordinary mystery, they face off against literal and inner monsters in this epic comedy that combines thrills, chills, and emotional spills.
"The Doomies" stars Max Mittelman (Viz Media "One Punch Man", Disney Japan "Twisted Wonderland: The Animation") as Bobby, Madison Calderon (Prime Video & Point Grey Pictures "Invincible: Atom Eve") as Romy, Noel Gibson (Nickelodeon Movies and Point Grey Pictures "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem") as Kim, Jon Bailey (Screen Junkies "Honest Trailers") as Doug, and Zehra Fazal ("Amphibia", Dreamworks Animation Television "She-Ra and the Princesses of Power") as Bobby's aunt Jenny.
“The Doomies” competes at the 2026 Annecy International Animation Film Festival in the TV Films category. The episode “Night of the Fishing Dead” was selected from more than 2,400 submissions and will be screened alongside other official selections from June 21-27.
"The Doomies" (Original Series Soundtrack) featuring the score composed by Vincent Artaud ("Chip 'n Dale: Park Life") and Walt Disney Records will be released on Friday, June 26, on all digital music platforms.
The series' theme song will be released on digital platforms in a few weeks as a sneak peek for the show.
A valuable energy signal draws attention beyond Halitus One. As Zelle approaches her target in the abandoned dead zone of Section 6, others are already closing in.
Former yakuza Akutsu is serving life in prison after a middling career in the underworld. On the night he lays dying in his cell, he reminisces with his only companion, a smart-mouthed flower growing out of a can, about the choices that brought him here, the woman he loved, and a child he would give everything to protect. Is redemption out of reach?
From director Baku Kinoshita and writer Kazuya Konomoto, creators of ODDTAXI, and award-winning Studio CLAP (Pompo the Cinephile), THE LAST BLOSSOM is a thrillingly original work from animation’s most inventive new talent. Moving across time and memory, the film is an unforgettable meditation on found family, sacrifice, and the complicated pieces that join together to make a life.
Become the pilot humanity needs in Gundam Rogue Orbit, a new high-mobility mecha action game from Bandai Namco Studios. Set within a brand-new timeline in the Gundam saga, ace pilot RE-X enters the cockpit of the powerful Gundam Helix and joins a ragtag crew of soldiers fighting against an unknown threat to humanity.
Battle through sprawling environments filled with enemy hordes, massive bosses and explosive mobile suit combat in a cinematic sci-fi story built around survival, sacrifice and humanity’s final stand.
Kenji Okamoto (Shun Oguri), a detective on suspension, is recruited to hunt down the criminal behind a series of unprecedented murders. It all starts when a college professor suddenly swells and explodes on live television. Before anyone can process this bizarre event, a man calling himself the Human Vapor (UTA) announces that he will perform a series of murders, sending society into a great panic. Kenji and reporter Kyoko (Yu Aoi) devote themselves to uncovering the truth and catching the culprit, who seems to be mocking the authorities as they struggle to close in on him. With each new killing, he corrodes society with a formless, pervasive fear.
A legendary Toho film is rebooted with an entirely original story. Visual effects by the Academy Award-winning team Shirogumi (Godzilla Minus One) are combined with an extraordinary sense of scale, replete with grand car chases. This innovative visual experience that sets a bold new standard for Japanese drama series is about to be released worldwide.
All eight episodes start streaming on Thursday, July 2, 2026, only on Netflix.
Inspired by Osamu Tezuka's classic "Princess Knight," THE RIBBON HERO follows Sapphire as she overcomes loss and trauma to protect those she holds dear. Brought to life by a powerhouse team of creators, this new anime film arrives August 8, 2026, only on Netflix.
A Japanese high school student’s emotional anti-immigration speech is spreading widely online as concerns about national identity grow. At a rally, the teen broke down in tears while shouting into a microphone, “Take our country back.” The clip of her trembling, emotional remarks quickly gained traction across social media in Japan. She argued that Japan has long been a single-ethnicity society and warned that this could change if current trends continue. Drawing comparisons to Europe, she cautioned about potential cultural erosion and increasing public safety concerns. Her repeated line, “It’s frightening,” resonated with supporters worried about the country’s future identity. The crowd echoed her sentiments, chanting and urging leaders to halt further immigration.
The gentle romance between two contrasting worlds blossoms into a new season. The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity 2: Intertwined Paths brings back Rintaro (Kôki Uchiyama) and Kaoruko (Honoka Inoue) as they enter their crucial final year of high school. While the invisible wall between the elite Kikyo Girls' School and the rough Chidori High has begun to crack thanks to their earnest bond, the looming pressure of graduation threatens to pull them in different directions.
Now facing the heavy expectations of adulthood, the couple finds their relationship tested by reality. Kaoruko is pressured by her strict academy and family to pursue an elite university far from home, while Rintaro struggles to figure out a future where he can proudly stand by her side. To complicate matters, a rigid new school board director arrives, determined to enforce a strict separation between the two schools and stamp out any mingling between the students.
Navigating these turbulent times won't be easy. Supported by their loyal friends (including Yoshinori Nakayama), Rintaro and Kaoruko must prove that their connection is more than just a fleeting high school romance. They organize a joint cultural festival against the administration's wishes, fighting to show everyone that judging people by their school crests or academic standing is a thing of the past.
Filled with heartwarming moments, emotional growth, and the pure, earnest love that fans adore, this touching sequel elevates the beloved story to new heights. The prejudices of the past are fading, the future is waiting, and Rintaro and Kaoruko are ready to show the world that a fragile flower can bloom beautifully, no matter where it is planted.
'Mars: Beyond 2100' is a roughly 22-minute AI-generated anime short film that was released on X (formerly Twitter) around May 17, 2026 (local time).
The director is Aiden Guo (@aidenguoai). He is a professional animator who has worked on commercial anime such as 'ONE PIECE' episode 1024 and 'Dandadan' episode 4, and is planning the 'Mars Series.' The producer is Jason W.
The voice actors are human Japanese cast members (Penya Beatrice Hoshino: @jiena_gaim, Yuan Shuai: @Teru_Ikuta, etc.), and the sound mixing is also professionally done, but most of the visuals and animation were generated using AI tools.
The award-winning comic about wine that has been a hit not just all over Asia but also in France! Learn about legendary bottles as well as affordable secrets while enjoying a page-turner that’s not about superheroes but people with jobs to keep. When world-renowned wine critic Kanzaki passes away, his will reveals that his fortune of a wine collection isn’t bequeathed as a matter of course to his only son, who in a snub went to work sales at a beer company. To come into the inheritance, Shizuku must identify—in competition with a stellar young critic—twelve heaven-sent wines whose impressions the will describes in flowing terms …
The Cat and the Dragon is a fantasy tale that delves into the mysterious bond between a dragon, a cat, and a human raised by a cat. Written by Amara and illustrated by Mai Okuma, the novel is published by Takarajimasha, alongside a comic adaptation by Izumi Sasaki. Both the novel and its comic version are currently in development, with total circulation exceeding 1.2 million copies.
Kill la Kill returns with a high energy continuation as Ryuko Matoi, Mako Mankanshoku, and Satsuki Kiryuin face a dangerous new uprising connected to the remnants of REVOCS. The new threat introduces Neo Fibers capable of merging with advanced technology and weaponry, creating enemies far more unpredictable than before. According to sources, the sequel pushes the franchise into a darker and more futuristic conflict while maintaining its signature over the top action style. Ryuko Matoi must now confront Ketsugen, a powerful synthetic battle suit designed to challenge humanity’s resistance on an entirely new level. Fans are especially excited to see how Ryuko adapts without Senketsu while Satsuki and Mako continue supporting the fight against the growing chaos. According to sources, the continuation promises explosive animation, emotional character moments, and the intense combat sequences that made the original series iconic.
Only one Cat girl can save them by... helping the villains?
Two unlikely companions embark on a high-stakes recon mission across various game worlds. As they navigate the rules of different realms and encounter diverse inhabitants, they must grapple with the destructive consequences of their actions and the existential threat posed by a mysterious, encroaching force from the Gameverse.
Star WarsHas Lost a Legend: Marcia Lucas Dies at 80
Today, Star Wars fans around the world are mourning the loss of Marcia Lucas, the Academy Award-winning editor whose work helped shape the original Star Wars into one of the most beloved films in cinematic history.
While George Lucas is rightly celebrated as the creator of Star Wars, Marcia Lucas played a critical role behind the scenes during the creation of the Original Trilogy. Her contributions to the editing of Star Wars (1977) helped bring the story, emotion, and pacing that captivated audiences and launched a cultural phenomenon that continues nearly 50 years later.
In this video, Coach reflects on Marcia Lucas's legacy, her contributions to Star Wars, her Academy Award-winning career, and why so many fans consider her one of the unsung heroes behind the galaxy far, far away.
Join us as we remember a woman whose influence can still be felt every time the opening crawl begins.
When Nao Kanzaki receives a strange letter and a suitcase containing 100 million yen, she learns that she has been selected to participate in the LIAR GAME. In this high-stakes psychological battle, lies, deception, and betrayal reign supreme. Naïve and honest, Nao turns to Shinichi Akiyama, a brilliant former con artist, to survive the twisted game. In a game built on lies, can honesty prevail?
This is the exhibition’s North American debut right here in Chicago. It will run through April 11, 2027. A special exhibition ticket is required that needs to be purchased in advance as demand is high.
When a mysterious signal is detected from the ruins of Earth, scavenger pilot Zelle Mercer is sent on what should be a routine retrieval mission. But beneath the clouds of the fractured planet, the mission is only the beginning.
